A compendious body of chymistry, which will serve as a guide and introduction both for understanding the authors which have treated of the theory of this science in general: and for making the way plain and easie to perform, according to art and method, all operations, which teach the practise of this art, upon animals, vegetables, and minerals, without losing any of the essential vertues contained in them. By N. le Fèbure apothecary in ordinary, and chymical distiller to the King of France, and at present to his Majesty of Great-Britain.

The Preparation of Seeds of Garden Cresses, Mustard, and other of the like Nature.

ALthough these Seeds have in themselves great store of most subtile, volatile, and most penetrating Salt, as may be concluded from their taste; yet fermentation doth not cause them to yield a hot burning Spirit, as many other Vegetables: but it opens them, and rarifies nevertheless in such a manner, that all the Salt and Oyl which these Seeds have in themselves, and

wherein all their vertue is placed, ascends in Vapours and Spirits, which being condensed into Liquor, fall again into the Recipi∣ent, with so subtile and penetrative a smell, that it invades the Eyes and Nostrils, and passes into all the conduits of the Brain, with as much quickness as the most subtile volatile Spirit of Urin might do. It is not necessary we should repeat here, the process of Fermentation and Distillation; it will only suffice, to give the necessary precautions for the work, because these Seeds are of a different nature from the other, by reason of the subtility of their volatile Salt. There must then a special care be had, that the Vessel wherein the fermentation is performed, be not above half full, that the matter may not rise too high in the action of the Ferment; the same precaution must be used in the Stillato∣ry Vessel not to fill it above half, to lure it exactly, and regu∣late the fire with a clear judgement, and an orderly assiduity, o∣therwise all would ascend in substance in the Still-head. The Spi∣rits may be rectified in B. M. if they are desired more purified and more subtile than by the Vesica or ordinary Stillatory; they are true diuretical and aperitive remedies; above all, to remove the Obstructions of the Spleen: they are moreover true specificks against the Scurvy: the dosis and vertue whereof hath been speci∣fied above, when we spoke of Antiscorbutical Plants, whither we refer the Artist for his better information.

But as the Oyls and Spirits of these Seeds may be extracted without addition; and that more-over it is necessary to distil them in this manner for external uses: We say the right way of operating to be this: fill two parts of a Glass Retort with any one of these Seeds, but chiefly of Mustard, by reason of the singular vertues of its Oyl: then place it in a Furnace upon an Earthen cover turned upside down, filled with Sand, which will be unto it instead of a Lute; then cover the Furnace, and fit a large Receiver to the Neck of the Retort, and lute it with quick Lime and whites of Eggs, and give it a regulate fire, until the drops begin to fall, keeping it in that tenor until the Oyl begins to appear; then encrease the fire by little and little, and urge it un∣til the Receiver, which was dark with fumes, begins to clear again of it self, which is a manifest sign, that the action of the fire hath driven into the Recipient all the vapourable substance contained

in the Seed, and so consequently that no more is to be expected. This operation is commonly ended in the space of 12 hours. All the Vessels being cold, take the Receiver off from the Retort, and separate the Substances that will be found therein, which you may rectifie if you will: but as they are only intended for out∣ward applications, it will not be very necessary: but if you in∣tend to rectifie them, leave the Spirit and Oyl together, and in∣fuse them in a low Cucurbite, which being covered with its Head, put it in ashes, and give it a graduate fire, until the volatile Salt and Spirit begin to appear in the Still-head; then keep the fire only in an equal tenor, until the Phlegm begins to ascend, which the taste will discover: for the volatile Spirit which is actuated by the same Salt, is extraordinary biting, subtile, and penetrating, and the Phlegm hath only an acid and almost insipid taste: this done, change the Recipient, and strengthen the fire to make the Oyl ascend, and so continue till nothing more comes away; then separate the Oyl from the Phlegm, put the distilled and rectified matters in Glass Vials, exactly stopt by reason of the subtilty of this Spirit and its volatile Salt. The Spirit doth wonders being applyed upon starved Limbs, well fermented with Spirit of Wine, and fresh stale; then make a liniment with Ʋn∣guentum Martiatum, Mans-fat, and the Oyl of Mustard-seed, apply∣ed upon it; which will raise up again natural heat in the part, and attract the Spirits of other parts more remote; and the itchings and vellications of the skin fore-running the total recovery, be∣ing felt by the Patient, will be a sufficient testimony thereof: thence it may be concluded, that it will be of a Soveraign effica∣cy, in all benummings of Sinews, their shrinking looseness, which are the occasion of Palsie, or Contraction of Limbs; provi∣ded the Spirit of this Seed made by fermentation be exhibited, and that the Patient be made to sweat after. The Oyl unrectified, does mundifie, cleanses and fleshes again the most filthy and ma∣lignant ulcers, dissolves the knots and hardnesses of Gowt and venereous diseases; but you must at the same time make use, and even a little before, of the internal remedies, such as we shall teach hereafter to extract out of Mercury and Antimony.

We shall not speak here of the dosis, not excellent vertues of the Spirit extracted by fermentation, from these kinds of Seeds;

because we have already sufficiently instructed the Artist of it, when we spoke of the vertue and dosis of the Plant called Cochlearia: I will only add this, that where this Plant shall fail, you may sub∣stitute the Spirit of the Seed of Garden Cresses, which will pro∣duce the same effects, and be useful in the same diseases: but it would be better nevertheless, to distil the Plant whole, when it is only between Flower and Seed.